With the continued advancements we’re
seeing in this technology, it’s looking like soon a
majority of the things we use will be manufactured this way.

Some experts are even suggesting that
it’ll get to the point where one day this form of
printing can be done at home and on demand (great news for habitual
coffee mug droppers like myself).

If you’re new to the 3D printing game,
here are five things to know about it:

1. Different technologies

The first 3D printer, invented in 1986 by
Charles Hull, was based on a technique called steriolithography.
Here, a perforated platform is positioned below the surface of a
vat of liquid photocurable polymer. A UV laser beam traces the
slice of an object onto the surface of the liquid, which causes a
thin layer of the photopolymer to harden. The platform then is
lowered slightly and another slice is traced and hardened. The
process is repeated until the object has completely printed,
whereupon it’s removed from the vat, drained of excess
liquid, and cured.

Pretty simple, right? It’s also
incredibly accurate. In fact, to this day, stereolithographic
printing is still one of the most accurate forms of 3D printing,
with a minimum build layer thickness of just 0.06mm.

The process of 3D printing has expanded
tremendously since Hull’s prototype, especially in the
past 10 years. One example is selective laser sintering. It builds
objects by laying down a layer of powder and then using a laser to
fuse the granules together. Powdered materials include polystyrene,
nylon, glass, ceramics, steel, titanium, aluminum, and sterling
silver.

Another form of 3D printing is multi-jet
modeling. It builds objects from layers of powder, too, but uses an
inkjet print head to instead spray a binder solution which glues
the granules together. Some printers can spray up to four different
colors of binder solution, which allows them to create full-color,
3D objects.

There’s also fused deposition
modeling. This process involves a hot thermoplastic (the same type
used in traditional injection molding) that gets extruded from a
temperature-controlled print head. It’s capable of
producing robust objects with remarkable accuracy.

With the need for rapid product prototyping
(like producing molds), a majority of 3D printers are used for
commercial manufacturing. It’s a terrific alternative,
especially when producing models that feature complex curves (which
require a ton of time and can be quite expensive, too).

3D printers allow engineers to check the fit of
different parts before committing to production. It also allows
architects to show clients detailed, yet low-cost, small-scale
models, and archaeologists to handle full-scale copies of
bones.

One field that has really taken to 3D printing
is healthcare. This is especially true in dentistry, where
tech-savvy dental technicians are already using this technology to
create crowns, bridges, and temporary teeth.

Hearing-aid manufacturers have hopped on the
bandwagon, too, with printers capable of producing ear molds and
shells unique to their customers.

Other areas of manufacturing that employ 3D
printing include automobiles, jewelry, lighting, furniture, toys,
and packaging.

3. Companies already in the mix

There are already a bunch of companies that
offer 3D printing. The difference between all of them is the way in
which they build the layers to create parts. As discussed earlier,
there are several methods to choose from, and each has its
advantages and drawbacks when it comes to speed, cost, materials,
and color capabilities. Depending on what you need to manufacture,
one printer may be better than the other.

As 3D printing becomes more streamlined, the
cost of the technology continues to drop. This has resulted in it
making its way into homes for personal use.

Several online communities are already devoted
to this technology. Two popular sites are RepRap.org and FabatHome.org. They’re
great to check out if you’re just getting into the
technology. Members share tips, designs, and information on how to
build a personal 3D printer.

You can also purchase a kit to build your own 3D
printer. They range in price from a few hundred dollars to several
thousand depending on what you’re looking to create.

5. Outlook

3D printers show tremendous promise on the
commercial side, but as to whether or not they’ll ever
catch on in consumers’ homes remains to be seen.

Experts do, however, foresee a day when 3D
printers will be used to output a majority of the spare parts we
use every day. Example: Let’s say you crack the glass in
your car’s rearview mirror and the local car parts store
is out of the size glass you need. Instead of driving around with a
blind spot until the glass is in stock, you can just go to your
local 3D printer facility with the specs for the glass and have the
new mirror printed out for you right there on the spot.

Some examples where this is already taking
place: The U.S. Army experimented with a truck-mounted 3D printer
that could output spare tank and vehicle components. NASA, too,
tried out a 3D printer and due to thes success of the program, they
just announced last month an initiative to bring a 3D printer up to
the International Space Station to produce spacecraft parts,
astronaut tools, satellites, and more.

Other areas where 3D printing is being tested: A
3D printed flyable aircraft was recently created by engineers at
the University of Southampton. The folks at Rolls Royce are trying
the technology out, too, using it to manufacture civil aircraft
engines. A team at Loughborough University is presently working on
a 3D concrete printing project, with the goal being to create a
machine capable of creating large building components on site, to
any design, and with improved thermal properties. Also, a car has
been manufactured using 3D printing. Code-named
“Urbee,” the effort was taken on by two groups:
Kor Ecologic and Stratasys. The result was the first-ever vehicle
to have its entire body, including glass panels, manufactured using
3D printing.

There’s also the developing field of
bioprinting (covering this would be a whole other article.) The
general idea here is that hospitals could one day use 3D printing
to manufacture replacement organs for the human body. It has
received a tremendous amount of funding so far and the field as a
whole has seen rapid development in recent years.

Conclusion

On-demand 3D printing for the general consumer
won’t be ready for some time. The good news, though, is
that the path to getting there is laid out. In fact, this year the
United States’ Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
plans to put 1,000 production-quality 3D printers in high schools
all across the U.S. as part of its Manufacturing Experimentation
and Outreach effort. So, if there’s not already one
nearby, chances are there will be a 3D printer coming to your
neighborhood pretty soon.